A funeral Mass for Sister Helen (Paulita) Kerrigan, BVM, was celebrated Nov. 21 at the Marian Hall Chapel in Dubuque, Iowa. Sister Helen died Nov. 16 at Marian Hall. She was 96 and had been a Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary for 77 years.

Born in Davenport, Iowa, on March 19, 1921, she entered the BVM congregation on Sept. 8, 1940. She professed first vows on March 19, 1943, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1948.

She taught at the grade school, high school and college levels. In the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Sister Helen served as an art teacher at Xavier High School (1955-60). She also taught secondary school music and art in Dubuque, Davenport and Marcus, Iowa, and San Francisco. She taught elementary school in Hempstead, N.Y., and Chicago, where she later taught art at Mundelein College. At Clarke University in Dubuque, she was an art teacher, department chair and adjunct professor/artist in residence.